Method and apparatus for formatting information within a directory tree structure into an encylopedia-like entry

An organization system for formatting information within a directory tree structure comprising:

• a. means for performing a search by utilizing a research module, the research module includes a keyword search, a hierarchical search, a dichotomous key search, and a parametric search, wherein each utilization of the research module includes the availability of each search at any location, including at any displayed page, within a searchable database, wherein the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search are available at any displayed page within the searchable database without requiring user input, to correlate a search criteria to the searchable database for generating one or more matching items, wherein the searchable database is formatted in the directory tree structure, wherein the directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes, and further wherein each matching item represents a node from within the directory tree structure;
• b. means for selecting one of the matching items;
• c. means for formatting the collection of related data corresponding to the node of the selected matching item into an encyclopedia-like entry;
• and
• d. means for displaying the encyclopedia-like entry corresponding to the node of the selected matching item.

An organization system for formatting information within a directory tree structure comprising:

• a. one or more computer systems configured to communicate with other systems;
• and
• b. an organization server configured to couple to the one or more computer systems to perform a search by utilizing a research module, the research module includes a keyword search, a hierarchical search, a dichotomous key search, and a parametric search, wherein each utilization of the research module includes the availability of each search at any location, including at any displayed page, within a searchable database, wherein the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search are available at any displayed page within the searchable database without requiring user input, to correlate a search criteria to the searchable database for generating one or more matching items, wherein the searchable database is formatted in the directory tree structure, wherein the directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes, and further wherein each matching item represents a node from within the directory tree structure, to select one of the matching items, to format the collection of related data corresponding to the node of the selected matching item into an encyclopedia-like entry, and to display the encyclopedia-like entry corresponding to the node of the selected matching item.

A method of formatting information within a directory tree structure comprising the steps of:

• a. performing a search by utilizing a research module, the research module includes a keyword search, a hierarchical search, a dichotomous key search, and a parametric search, wherein each utilization of the research module includes the availability of each search at any location, including at any displayed page, within a searchable database, wherein the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search are available at any displayed page within the searchable database without requiring user input, to correlate a search criteria to the searchable database for generating one or more matching items, wherein the searchable database is formatted in the directory tree structure, wherein the directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes, and further wherein each matching item represents a node from within the directory tree structure;
• b. selecting one of the matching items;
• c. formatting the collection of related data corresponding to the node of the selected matching item into an encyclopedia-like entry, wherein the encyclopedia-like entry includes text, graphics, links to related topics within the directory tree structure, links to related web sites external to the directory tree structure, or any combination thereof;
• and
• d. displaying the encyclopedia-like entry corresponding to the node of the selected matching item.